Written by Kyle Bjerga, pastor of discipleship and family ministries at Cityview Community Church in Elmhurst, Illinois
What are the top 10 sermons you’ve ever heard? Name the passage, title, main idea, and key points. Could you do it? Probably not. We know that the proclamation of God’s Word is necessary for both salvation and spiritual formation; it’s the foundation of discipleship.
But what if I asked you who the 10 most spiritually influential people in your life are? That question brings to mind names, faces, and conversations immediately. It’s harder for us to remember information, but relationships stick with us.
Most people who have influenced our faith first entered our lives when we were younger. While they may no longer be a part of our lives, they’ve made a lasting difference for the gospel. Ten years ago, Lifeway Research conducted a study to identify the top predictors of a lasting faith in children and teens. One key predictor is intergenerational relationships. When a kid has older adults who invest in their spiritual life, they’re more likely to remain in the church in their adult years.
I believe every local church needs members of all ages involved in the ongoing discipleship of children and teens. Not just volunteers serving the children’s and youth ministries, but men and women of all ages and stages spending time with youth and saying to them, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1).
Recently I wrote for TGC about how to implement an intergenerational discipleship ministry in your church. I encourage you to consider it prayerfully, then take steps to build a discipleship culture that will have lasting influence on the next generation.
—Kyle
